Wagner brothers, Magic top Hornets to end 10-game skid

Updated Jan. 14, 2022 9:47 p.m. ET

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Moritz Wagner scored a season-high 26 points, younger brother Franz added 19 points and seven assists, and the Orlando Magic beat the Charlotte Hornets 116-109 on Friday night to snap a 10-game losing streak.

Gary Harris added 18 points for the Magic (8-35), who had not won since before Christmas.

Orlando trailed by three entering the fourth quarter, but took advantage of a cold-shooting Hornets team to open a 13-point lead with 2 minutes left, punctuated by Moritz Wagner's dunk — and celebratory flex — off a feed from Cole Anthony.

LaMelo Ball had 23 points and eight assists for the Hornets (23-20), who shot 12 of 42 from 3-point range. Miles Bridges added 20 points and Mason Plumlee had 10 points and 10 rebounds in a chippy game.

Orlando's reserves outscored Charlotte's 55-19, with Jalen Suggs contributing 12 points and Terrence Ross 10.

The Hornets entered the game on a five-game win streak that included two victories over the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks and one over the Philadelphia 76ers. But Charlotte went cold in the fourth quarter and the Magic quickly surged ahead behind Moritz Wagner, who finished 11 of 17 from the field and had four 3-pointers.

The Hornets had beaten the Magic twice this season in Orlando by a combined 16 points.

Ball came up with two eye-popping plays on back-to-back possessions for the Hornets that brought fans out of their seats.

First, he shook Anthony by faking a drive to the basket before stepping back and creating more than 5 feet of space, more than enough to knock down a 3-pointer. Then he came up with a steal on the other end of the court, drove the length of the floor and went between his legs with the ball before lofting a perfect alley-oop pass to Bridges, who finished with a resounding dunk.

TIP-INS

Magic: Mo Bamba (sprained right toe) and Wendell Carter Jr. (hamstring) did not play.

Hornets: Kelly Oubre Jr. remained in the health and safety protocols. ... Terry Rozier had 19 points, but shot just 4 of 15 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT

Magic: At Dallas on Saturday night.

Hornets: At New York on Monday.

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